Ankiel activated from DL, Marrero remains in Syracuse

Ankiel activated from DL, Marrero remains in Syracuse
Outfielder Rick Ankiel has been activated from the disabled list. He fills the vacancy created when first baseman Adam LaRoche was placed on the 15-day disabled list yesterday by the Nationals with a torn labrum in his left shoulder. There had been some speculation about first baseman Chris Marrero, one of the up-and-coming infielders in the Nationals' system, potentially getting the call. Jason Benetti, play-by-play announcer for the Chiefs, said that manager Randy Knorr feels Marrero is...
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Updates on Nationals prospects in Florida from your comments

Updates on Nationals prospects in Florida from your comments
Here are some updates from Nationals director of player development Doug Harris on a few of the players you have asked for in the comments section. RHP Russell Moldenhauer, who was named to the 2009 College World Series all-tournament team with the Texas Longhorns: "Moldenhauer has had some physical things that he has dealt with," Harris said. "(Moldy) is kind of a Matt Stairs type. He is a dangerous guy but we really have to grind his defense. He didn't defend in college. He was a...
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Ankiel joins Harrisburg on rehab assignment

Ankiel joins Harrisburg on rehab assignment
Washington Nationals outfielder Rick Ankiel has joined Double-A Harrisburg Senators on a rehab assignment. Ankiel has been in Viera, Fla., rehabbing a sprained right wrist taking live batting practice. He was placed on the disabled list May 7, retroactive to May 3, and was batting .221 with one homer and seven RBIs in 28 games.
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Destin Hood "excited" to gain Batter of Week honor in Carolina League

Destin Hood "excited" to gain Batter of Week honor in Carolina League
The Potomac Nationals' offense is starting to get on a roll, and evidence of that came down this week with outfielder Destin Hood being honored as Batter of the Week in the Single-A Carolina League for the period of May 16-22. In the last seven games, Hood hit .448 (13-for-29) with nine extra-base hits (seven doubles, triple, home run) and 10 RBI. Hood connected on five straight multi-hit games and in three of the games, he had at least three hits. During the stretch, Hood had an amazing...
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Pitchers at Syracuse, Harrisburg showing farm system depth

Pitchers at Syracuse, Harrisburg showing farm system depth
A lot of the starters at Triple-A Syracuse - such as Ross Detwiler, Craig Stammen, Garrett Mock, J.D. Martin and Yunesky Maya - have pitched in front of Nationals' fans. We could see them again soon on 1500 South Capitol St. One question is: Who might be the next starting pitcher that we haven't seen yet get the call to D.C.? How about starting with two Brads? Right-hander Brad Peacock continues his dominance at Double-A Harrisburg. This weekend, he had another double-digit strikeout...
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Multiple at-bats helping Stairs get back into a rhythm

Multiple at-bats helping Stairs get back into a rhythm
BALTIMORE - The Nationals found themselves down Saturday 4-2 in the top of the sixth inning against Orioles starter Jeremy Guthrie. Following an Ian Desmond line out, Laynce Nix drew a walk and Jayson Werth smacked a solid single to get men on first and second. Designated hitter Matt Stairs stepped in and had a chance to get Washington back in the game. But Stairs grounded into an inning ending 4-6-3 double play. It was one of the few opportunities against Guthrie that the Nationals were...
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Hairston hopes attitude in clubhouse can get offense clicking

Hairston hopes attitude in clubhouse can get offense clicking
BALTIMORE, Md. -- The Nationals' clubhouse was loose and relaxed. Guys were chatting up each other, playing cards and some joked around. Hardly the feeling you think you would find from a team that just lost two games in New York without plating a run. Yes, this was before Friday night's offensive explosion at Baltimore. The Nationals scored 17 runs and pounded out 19 hits, including six homers and a pair of triples. Nationals third baseman Jerry Hairston Jr. said the guys were relaxed...
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Marquis upset, but understands pitching change against Orioles

Marquis upset, but understands pitching change against Orioles
BALTIMORE, Md. - Nationals starter Jason Marquis was the beneficiary of six runs early on from the offense for his second straight start, but this time he was not around long enough to factor into the decision. It was the first no decision for Marquis since way back on April 10. Marquis managed to get through the first two frames unscathed, but the Orioles scored three runs in the third inning, benefiting from a Roger Bernadina misplay in center field that allowed two runs to score with two...
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Rizzo updates progress of Zimmerman and Ankiel

Rizzo updates progress of Zimmerman and Ankiel
BALTIMORE - Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo offered updates on injured players Ryan Zimmerman and Rick Ankiel during batting practice prior to Friday's interleague opener at Baltimore. Zimmerman is rehabilitating from abdominal surgery in early May. Rizzo said it is likely Zimmerman will leave for Florida in about one week, when the team returns from this extended road trip, which ends May 25 at Milwaukee. "We will get (Zimmerman) into baseball activities and then some game action,"...
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Prospect Ray credits Team USA experience for stunning debut

Prospect Ray credits Team USA experience for stunning debut
It has been an incredible start to the professional career of Single-A Hagerstown Suns left-hander
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Prospect Kelso setting tone for first place Suns

Prospect Kelso setting tone for first place Suns
Blake Kelso is off to a great start to his season on a very talented first place Single-A Hagerstown Suns ball club. The talented third baseman has been leading off for manager Brian Daubach, and with good reason. Kelso is batting .358 through 38 games with 10 doubles, a homer and 22 RBIs. His on-base percentage is .411 and he has 12 walks and stolen six bases. Those numbers reflect consistency that Kelso showed with the Vermont Lake Monsters in the NY/Penn League last season. Kelso hit .309...
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Solis one start away from leaving Florida

Solis one start away from leaving Florida
Nationals left-handed pitching prospect Sammy Solis has fully recovered from a couple of injuries and is ready for what is expected to be his final start in extended spring training in Florida. Solis first injured his quadriceps running late in spring training. Then, he suffered a groin strain that the team's medical staff originally thought might have been a hernia. "It turned out it was not a hernia, so everything is fine," Solis said. If the 6-foot-5, 230-lb., University of San...
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Harper breaks out of 0-for-11 stretch with double in Suns win

Harper breaks out of 0-for-11 stretch with double in Suns win
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Single-A Hagerstown Suns right fielder
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Harper contributes with double in Hagerstown win

Harper contributes with double in Hagerstown win
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - David Freitas collected three hits and three RBIs as the Hagerstown Suns held off the Kannapolis Intimidators 4-3 to complete Tuesday's suspended game at Municipal Stadium. Wade Moore bowled over Kannapolis catcher Mike Blanke at home plate in the seventh inning, knocking the ball loose and scoring what turned into the winning run, putting the Suns ahead, 4-2.
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Bryce Harper doubles, scores run as Hagerstown leads

Bryce Harper doubles, scores run as Hagerstown leads
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Suns outfielder Bryce Harper">Bryce Harper laced a double down the right field line in the fifth inning and then scored on a double by first baseman David Freitas, giving Hagerstown a 3-2 lead over Kannapolis. Hagerstown now leads Kannapolis 4-2 through seven frames. Getting his fourth at-bat in the seventh inning, Harper was intentionally walked and stranded at second. Harper is 1-for-3 with a double, run scored, strike out and line out to left field. The hit ended an...
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Bryce Harper 0-2 through third inning in Hagerstown

Bryce Harper 0-2 through third inning in Hagerstown
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - Hagerstown Suns right fielder
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Checking in live from Hagerstown

Checking in live from Hagerstown
HAGERSTOWN, Md. - I'm out in Hagerstown this afternoon, as the Suns will play two games today. The first game will be the conclusion of yesterday's suspended game. Kannapolis leads 2-1 heading to the bottom of the third. @bkerr32 for instant updates.
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Former Mets lefty Oliver Perez activated to Double-A Harrisburg

Former Mets lefty Oliver Perez activated to Double-A Harrisburg
The Washington Nationals have made a couple of moves worth noting that affect the Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse rosters. Outfielder Jesus Valdez and right-hander Ryan Mattheus have been promoted to Syracuse. Mattheus had a strong run of nine consecutive games without allowing an unearned run snapped May 12 at Richmond. His record is still impressive at 2-1 with a 2.45 ERA as a reliever with the Senators. Valdez has gone 6-for-14 in his last five games and is batting .278 in...
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Lannan learning to battle through early adversity

Lannan learning to battle through early adversity
Nationals' left-hander John Lannan fought through Monday night's start against the Pittsburgh Pirates when everything wasn't clicking like he had hoped. He was giving up base hits. His fastball wasn't locating, ending up high in the zone. The Pirates had chances to blow the game open early. "I felt good but I was just up," Lannan said. "I told myself to take a deep breath and get down. That is where I am most effective and that is where I am going to get groundballs. That is what I...
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Espinosa makes Pirates "right move" look so wrong

Espinosa makes Pirates "right move" look so wrong
Playing the percentages, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle pulled starting left-handed pitcher Paul Maholm in the bottom of the seventh inning in a 2-2 game. Hurdle brought in right-handed reliever Jose Ascanio to face Nationals switch-hitting second baseman Danny Espinosa, who has had only three hits in his last nine games and was 0-for-2 Monday night. Danny Espinosa talks about his strong at-bats in the Nationals' win Espinosa, switching over to bat left-handed, saw the move being made and...
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